Israeli Strikes Kill More Than 30 Palestinians in Gaza, One of Deadliest Days Since October Ceasefire

Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed at least 30 Palestinians, including several children, according to hospitals and the Palestinian Ministry of Health — marking one of the highest single-day death tolls since the October 2025 ceasefire took effect.
The wave of strikes targeted multiple locations, including residential apartments in Gaza City, a tent camp in Khan Younis, and a Hamas-run police station in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. Reports from Gaza’s civil defense and health officials indicate the toll ranged from 28 to 32, with victims including women, children (at least six confirmed), and police officers. Dozens more were injured, some critically.
The Israeli military stated the strikes were in response to a ceasefire violation the previous day, when troops identified eight armed militants emerging from underground infrastructure in eastern Rafah — an area under Israeli control per the truce terms. The IDF said it targeted Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad commanders and infrastructure.
The attacks occurred just one day before the Rafah border crossing with Egypt is scheduled to partially reopen on Sunday, February 1, 2026 — a key provision of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire’s second phase. The crossing, closed for nearly two years except for limited aid, will allow restricted passenger movement in both directions, subject to Israeli security clearance and EU supervision. Palestinians view Rafah as a vital lifeline for medical evacuations, family reunifications, and humanitarian access, amid widespread destruction of Gaza’s medical infrastructure.
The ceasefire, which halted large-scale fighting in October 2025, has seen intermittent violations and continued targeted operations. Gaza’s health ministry reports over 490 Palestinians killed since the truce began, while the overall war death toll stands at around 70,000 according to local authorities (figures widely cited but not independently verified in full).
Rescue efforts continued into Saturday evening at strike sites, with bodies recovered from rubble in Gaza City and Khan Younis. No immediate comment from Hamas on the latest incidents was available.
This escalation comes amid fragile implementation of the truce’s next stages, including border reopenings, demilitarization discussions, and reconstruction planning for Gaza.